Health and safety policies are often well-written. But what happens when they meet the reality of a live construction site?

Jimmy Webb speaks with Beth Slade, Founder of Beth Slade Safety Ltd, about the gap between health and safety policy and everyday practice across construction.

The conversation covers:

• Where paperwork and compliance fall short on-site
• Why culture, behaviour, and communication matter
• The risks that accreditations and tick-box systems can miss
• How health and safety is experienced day to day in construction

This episode of the UK Construction Podcast, produced by UK Construction Blog, offers practical insight for anyone responsible for safety, people, or site operations.

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Special shoutout to our dynamic host Jimmy Webb of Construction Cogs: https://constructioncogs.com

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Plumber of the Year 2022, Jimmy Hendry, joins the UK Construction Blog Podcast for a candid conversation on the realities of gas safety in the UK. Hosted by Jimmy Webb, the episode draws on over 30 years of hands-on experience in plumbing and gas engineering to explore why serious safety risks continue to exist despite strict regulations.

This episode looks at how gas safety is applied in the real world, not just on paper.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why gas safety laws and enforcement are failing homeowners and tenants
• How unqualified gas work continues despite the Gas Safe Register
• The dangers of cheap boiler servicing and what a proper service involves
• Why boilers can still be bought and installed without proper checks
• The gap between gas safety regulations and everyday practice
• What happens when plumbers challenge safety failures publicly

Gas safety is not just a compliance issue. It is a public safety issue.

This conversation is essential viewing for plumbers, gas engineers, landlords, construction professionals, and homeowners who want to understand the real risks behind boiler installations and servicing in the UK.

https://www.ciphe.org.uk/

https://plumberscompany.org.uk/

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Thank you to our sponsor for this episode, WebMotion Media:

https://web-motion.co.uk/

Special shoutout to our dynamic host Jimmy Webb of Construction Cogs: https://constructioncogs.com

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Drugs and alcohol policies are meant to keep construction sites safe. But what happens when those policies don’t match real-life behaviour on site?

In this episode, Jimmy from UK Construction Blog speaks with Nick McMurray from Positive Matters, a company working with construction businesses to rethink how they approach drugs, alcohol, testing and support. Instead of relying on old “zero tolerance” rules that are often ignored in practice, Positive Matters helps companies build policies that actually work.

Nick explains why most drug and alcohol policies fail, how inconsistent testing leads to risk, and why proper education and operating procedures matter just as much as the tests themselves. He also breaks down how support programmes, second-chance pathways and clear accountability can help employers protect their people without compromising safety.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

✔️ Why most zero-tolerance policies fall apart on real construction sites

✔️ The four pillars of an effective drug and alcohol strategy

✔️ The business risks of inconsistent testing

✔️ How support programmes reduce reoffending and improve retention

✔️ The reality of substance use across all levels of the industry

✔️ Common myths about "detoxing", flushing out substances and passive smoking

✔️ Why ketamine, CBD oils and new synthetic opioids are becoming bigger issues on site

If you manage teams, handle safety, or work in construction leadership, this episode offers clear insight into the behavioural pressures driving substance use and what employers can realistically do to protect both people and projects.

https://positivematters.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-mcmurray-06b14628

____________________________________________

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Thank you to our sponsor for this episode, WebMotion Media:

https://web-motion.co.uk/

Special shoutout to our dynamic host Jimmy Webb of Construction Cogs: https://constructioncogs.com

____________________________________________

Follow us for other industry updates, thought leadership, house building/DIY tips and the occasional crossword puzzle!

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